Grady Kennedy, 5, looks at a 2007 Peterbilt truck owned by his cousin Derek Flynn of Winchester. It was one of about 45 semi trucks on display Saturday at the sixth annual Jacksonville Semi Truck and Trailer Show on the Prairie Land Heritage Museum grounds in South Jacksonville. Grady is the son of Chris and Tahni Kennedy of Barry. less

Grady Kennedy, 5, looks at a 2007 Peterbilt truck owned by his cousin Derek Flynn of Winchester. It was one of about 45 semi trucks on display Saturday at the sixth annual Jacksonville Semi Truck and Trailer ... more

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Kenworths, Peterbilts and Freightliners are lined up Saturday at the Jacksonville Semi Truck and Trailer Show in South Jacksonville. Proceeds from the event went to Prairie Land Heritage Museum, which hosted the show, and Ansar Shriners. less

Kenworths, Peterbilts and Freightliners are lined up Saturday at the Jacksonville Semi Truck and Trailer Show in South Jacksonville. Proceeds from the event went to Prairie Land Heritage Museum, which hosted ... more

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Truck show picking up speed

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They came in a variety of colors and carried names such as Kenworth, Peterbilt and Freightliner.

“This was the biggest turnout of semi trucks we’ve ever had, and the weather was beautiful for the show,” said Dane Roach of Jacksonville, who organized the event with his wife, Tracy. “We couldn’t have asked for a better day.”

The truck show continues to grow, Roach said.

“We want people that are proud of their equipment and willing to sacrifice a summer afternoon to bring their semi to our show,” he said. “It takes a lot of people to organize the show and we couldn’t have put it together without Brad and Marianne Northrop of Jacksonville.”

Among those who brought a semi truck to the event was Landon Ridings of Jacksonville.

“I brought my 2001 Kenworth W900 truck to show and to see what everybody else had to show,” he said. “I know quite a few of the other guys here. We talk about everything from trucking to families. It’s kind of a social event.”

It also was a judged event and trophies were awarded in several categories.

Ridings also likes to come to the show to see the different paint schemes and all the chrome on the trucks, he said.

One of the pickup trucks on display was a turquoise and white 1958 Chevrolet Apache Fleetside owned by Don Murphy of rural Jacksonville.

“I rebuilt my truck about three years ago,” Murphy said. “It’s a nice riding truck, and if I wanted to jump in it tomorrow and drive it to California, I would.”

On the outside, the 1958 pickup is original, while the cab’s interior has modern conveniences, such as air conditioning.

“The upholstery makes the truck,” Murphy said. “Mike McKean of Murrayville did all the upholstery. He did a great job.”

Murphy said he has been taking antique cars and trucks to shows around the Midwest for 30 years.

“And I’ve been restoring and rebuilding old cars and trucks for more than 30 years,” he added. “I enjoy getting together with all the car and truck people. It’s always good to see old friends.”

Greg Olson can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1224, or on Twitter @JCNews_Greg.